Weft replenishing mechanism of looms for weaving



Feb. 25, 1936. J. E.' MOORE 2,031,726

WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Feb. 19, 193 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1434! x 5 2 5 18 5 F 12% INYENTOR v Feb. 25, 1936. 2,031,726

WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR WEAVING J. E. MOORE Filed Feb. 19, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Feb. 25, 1936. J. E. MOORE 2,031,726

WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM LOOMS FOR WEAVING Filed Feb. 19, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGQB. FIG'JO.

' mvENTdm ans-=5 Feb. 25, 1936.. J E, MOORE WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM OF LQOMS FOR W EAVING' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 19, 1934 nan Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES WEFT REPLENISHING MECHANISM OF LOOMS FOR WEAVING John Ernest Moore, Manchester, England Application February 19, 1934, Serial No. 712,038 In Great Britain February 27, 1933 6 Claims.

This invention relates to Weft replenishing mechanism of looms for weaving and. has for its object to introduce an improved form of mechanism which will increase the length of time in which the operations of ejecting a used or emptied shuttle skewer, and the insertion of a loaded shuttle skewer may be accomplished.

According to this invention there is combined with a rotary shuttle box, or an endless chain of shuttle boxes, a magazine for loaded shuttle skewers which oscillates with the sley.

In one arrangement a magazine for loaded shuttle skewers oscillates with the sley and operates in conjunction with either a rotary shuttle box, or an endless chain of shuttle boxes that moves with the sley so that no relative movement takes place between the skewer magazine and the rotary box or chain of shuttle boxes during the time that a change of weft is being effected, with the result that as no box change can be made under two picks of the loom a space of time equal to at least two picks of the loom in place of a small fraction of a pick is available for performing the operations of ejecting the used or emptied shuttle skewer and the insertion of the loaded shuttle skewer.

The magazine for the loaded shuttle skewers may take the form of a rotary drum or drums, or discs or an endless chain or belt operating in conjunction with either a rotary shuttle box, or an endless chain of shuttle boxes which is used to bring a filled shuttle into a position for weaving and a shuttle with a used or emptied shuttle skewer into a position for the ejection of such 35 skewer, and also bringing a shuttle box with an empty shuttle into a position for being refilled. The ejection of the used or emptied shuttle skewer is effected from the interior of the rotary shuttle box or chain of shuttle boxes. For this 40 purpose the rotary shuttle box has a hollow centre which is used to accommodate an ejector which ejects the used or emptied skewer from the shuttle.

Means are provided for transferring loaded 45 shuttle skewers from the magazine to empty shuttles in the rotary shuttle box,- means are provided also for rotating the latter to bring a full shuttle into line with the shuttle race ready for being picked. Means are provided for cutting the weft near the selvedge and allowing the length of cut weft together with a weft holder holding the initial end of the weft to fall down a chute into a receptacle, means are provided also for automatically stopping the loom when all the loaded shuttle skewers have been removed from the magazine. The latter when made in the form of drums or discs can be detachably mounted so that it can be removed from the loom when empty and replaced by a full one. When the magazine takes the form of an endless chain or 5 belt it is fitted with clips or other shuttle skewer holding devices and operates in conjunction with a rotary shuttle box, the upper end of the magazine passing over a roller or sprocket wheel arrangement driven from a rotary shuttle box and situated in a suitable position for enabling the shuttle skewers to be transferred from. the magazine into the shuttles in the shuttle box as and when required, the lower portion of the magazine passing under one or more guide rollers andbeing continued upwardly to pass over a roller situated at the front of the loom at a suitable height for enabling the shuttle skewers to be placed on to the clips or holding devices by hand.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of a loom fitted with weft replenishing mechanism in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a detached view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are two views of a weft holder box drawn to a larger scale.

Figs. 7 and 8 are two views of a weft holder and its attendant parts drawn to a larger scale.

Figs. 9 and 10 show two clip fittings drawn to a larger scale for holding the loaded shuttle skewer.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a rotary box controlled or driven by a magazine for loaded shuttle skewers in the form of an endless belt or chain.

Figs. 12 and 13 are diagrams showinga modification in which an endless chain of shuttle boxes is substituted for a rotary shuttle box.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the magazine for loaded shuttle skewers takes the form of two flanged discs A, A which are fitted with spring clips a, a to hold the loaded shuttle skewers. The discs A, A are adjustably or otherwise fixed on a shaft C that is detachably mounted between and supported by a spring pressed shaft or stud c and a shaft D. The shaft or stud c is slidably mounted in a boss 0 on a bracket 0 that is fixed to the sley sword E. The shaft D is rotatably mounted in a bearing d that is fixed on a leg F that, is carried by an extension e of the sley sword shaft e. Rigidly fixed on the shaft C is a flanged disc A carrying boxes a in which are detachably mounted weft holders (1. to which the ends b of the weft on the skewers B are secured, one example of which is shown in Fig. 1. Each of the weft holders 0. comprises a weight with a tongue a", Figs. 7 and 8, fixed to it. If desired a drum or drums could be substituted for the discs A, A A and the fittings a, a a be fixed thereon. The disc A is formed with a boss having dog clutch teeth or interlocking surfaces (1 which interlock with similar interlocking surfaces I on the boss of a sprocket wheel 1 that is rotatably mounted on the shaft D. The

sprocket wheel is geared by a chain f witha sprocket pinion 1' that is fixed on the spindle f of a rotary shuttle box F, the cells of which contain shuttles F A partial turn is given to the shuttle box when the weft in the shuttle that is in use breaks or fails by mechanism controlled from the weft fork. For this purpose when the weft breaks, or fails, the weft fork hammer is engaged by the weft fork and moves the weft fork lever to move a lever fixed at one end of a change rod G that extends along the front of the loom and imparts a turning movement to such rod. At the other end ofthe rod G is fixed an arm 9 that is connected by a link g to an arm g that is adjustably pivoted in a slot h in the loom end frame H. The free end of the arm 9 is fitted with a bowl or runner 9 that occupies a position underneath an arm 9* of a bell crank lever, of which the other arm g is connected by a link 9 to an arm g fixed at one end of a shaft g that is carried at one end by a bracket e on the sley sword E, and supported at the other end by an arm c Fig. 2, that moves with the sley. Fixed at the. other end of the shaft g is an arm g having a projection 9 that is adapted to move the box change hook 1 against the action of a spring into a. position in which it will engage one of a number of studs 1'' on a plate I on the shuttle box spindle when the hook I is pulled down. A form of mechanism for raising and lowering the hook comprises a bowl or runner f on a crank arm i that is fixed on the bottom shaft J of the loom. The bowl or runner f imparts a rocking movement to a lever i fixed to a bracket f The latter is mounted on a shaft or stud I carried by a bracket f fixed to the aforesaid leg F that is mounted on the extension e of the sley sword shaft e and supports the out-.

or end of the shuttle box spindle f Adjustably fixed on the bracket f is a lever f that is hinged to the bottom end of the hook f When the shuttle box is turned to bring a full shuttle into line with the shuttle race the flanged discs A, A A are simultaneously turned to bring a weft carrier into position for being transferred into an empty shuttle. The bottom shaft J is fitted with a. sprocket wheel b that is geared by a chain b with a sprocket wheel 1: that is rotatably mounted on the sley sword shaft e. Fixed to orforming part of the sprocket wheel 2: is a cam b which works in conjunction with a bowl or runner b on a lever b that is pivoted at b". Connected to the free end of the lever b isa member b that is yieldingly connected through a spring b and jointed levers b with a member Z7 that is attached at its upper end to a lever b of a pair of levers b, b which are rigidly fixed on an oscillatory shaft D and used for transferring a loaded shuttle skewer from the flanged discs A, A these said levers being operated every two picks. Fixed on this shaft is a lever D Fig. 1, which passes underneath a lever b that is held down by a spring b clear of the boxes a When the shaft Z2 is turned it raises the lever h through the box a that is in line with it and transfers the holder a for the initial end of the weft into a receptacle 17 one of which is provided for each cell of the rotary shuttle box and is fitted with a spring actuated jaw b Simultaneously with this operation the levers b D transfer a loaded shuttle skewer from the clip fittings a; a into a shuttle. To eject a used or emptied shuttle skewer from a shuttle the cam 12* raises the lever I: together with a member I; that is yieldingly connected to an arm I) of a two-armed lever, the other arm 12 of which is cranked at b, Figs. 1 and 3. The cranked portion b extends into the shuttle box cylinder and is formed at its end with a projection 12. Each shuttle box cell is formed with an opening 17 and when one of such openings comes opposite to the projection b, the latter passes through that opening and ejects the used or emptied shuttle skewer from the shuttle in that cell into a. chute, box, or other receptacle. When all the loaded shuttle skewers have been transferred from the discs A, A to the shuttles, a projection K, Figs. 1 and 2 on the disc A engages a pin 70 fixed on one arm k of a two-armed lever and turns the latter to lower its other arm k into' line with a lateral projection is on an arm k that is fixed on a rod k that extends along the front of the loom. When the sley beats up the arm 70 engages the projection k and turns the rod 70 to cause an arm on its other end to engage a pin on one arm of a two-armed lever and cause the other arm of such lever to move the starting handle to the off position and stop the loom. Simultaneously with this operation a portion of the two-armed lever imparts a turning movement to a shaft carrying a finger which lifts the weft fork clear of the weft hammer, and prevents actuation of the change shaft at this time. The reference character L indicates the movable blade of a weft cutter that is placed close to the selvedge of the cloth. Extending from this blade is an arm L that is formed on its underside with a projection Z. Hinged to this arm L' is a rod Z that passes through a block l and is gripped by a spring therein. This block is pivotally connected with an arm 1 that is fixed on the change rod. G. When the latter is turned to transfer a loaded shuttle skewer from its clip to a shuttle, the arm I pulls the rod l downwardly and opens the cutter and on the next beat up of the sley a portion of the sley comes into contact with the projection Z and closes the cutter, thereby cutting the weft near the selvedge of the cloth. This leaves a length of weft extending from the cutter to the weft holder :1 in the receptacle b at the outer end of the shuttle box. Simultaneously with the cutting of the weft, the weft holder a in the receptacle 1: on the box that has just come into service is released and allowed to fall down a chute M into a box or receptacle taking with it the length of weft that existed between the cutter and the holder. For this purpose an arm N, Fig. 4 is fixed on the shaft 1) and when the latter is turned such arm depresses an arm n that is fixed at one end of a rod n At the other end of this rod is fixed an arm n that is cranked at its free end n Fig. 1 to a suitable position for turning the spring actuated jaw b to release the weft holder 0; which then falls down the chute M. In operation the loom continues running until the weft breaks or fails. The box is then turned to bring a filled shuttle into position. Simultaneously with this operation another loaded shuttle skewer with its weft holder a is transferred into an empty shuttle and receptacle 1)", and a used or emptied shuttle skewer is ejected from a shuttle. After the first pick has been completed the cutter cuts the weft near the selvedge and the weft holder with its length of cut weft is released and allowed to fall down the chute. When all the loaded shuttle skewers have been removed from their clips on the rotary conveyor the projection on one of the discs comes into operation to stop the loom. The rotary conveyor can then be removed by imparting a slight axial move ment to it to disengage it from mechanism actuated by the rotary shuttle box and replaced by a filled conveyor.

In the modification shown in Fig. 11 a magazine O of the endless belt or chain type comprises three chains which take the place of the discs A, A A, Fig. 1 and pass over sprocket wheels which oscillate with the sley and are driven by a chain 1 from a rotary shuttle box F and situated in a suitable position for enabling loaded shuttle skewers B on clips such as a,

a or other holding devices on the magazine to be transferred therefrom into the shuttle F in the shuttle box as and when required. The lower portion of the magazine passes under sprocket wheels 0 mounted on a shaft 0 on the sley sword E and leg F, Fig. l, and sprocket wheels 0 mounted at the front of the loom. The magazine passes over sprocket wheel 0 situated at the front of the loom at a suitable height for enabling the loaded shuttle skewers B and holders a to be placed by hand on to the clips 0., a and boxes a carried by the aforesaid chains.

In the alternative construction shown in Figs. 12 and 13 a series of equally spaced shuttle boxes P are mounted on two endless chains 1) or they may be mounted on an endless conveyor belt, to which an intermittent rotary motion is imparted by a box change hook such as f Fig. 2 as and when required, for bringing a shuttle box containing a shuttle F charged with a loaded shuttle skewer into line with the shuttle race, and such intermittent motion carries the boxes containing the shuttles with the used or emptied shuttle skewers down towards the bottom or to any other predetermined part of the traverse of the endless chains or conveyor belt where they may be ejected by means of an ejector such as D Fig. 3. Guides 12 p may be used in conjunction with the endless chains or conveyor belt for retaining the shuttles in the shuttle boxes, and also for keeping the shuttles in their correct lateral position in the boxes, until they arrive at their dis-- charging positon. The magazine for the loaded shuttle skewers would be placed below the shuttle conveyor p and oscillate with the sley. The shuttles may have slots cut in the bottoms or sides to admit the passing of the shuttle skewers and in the cases where an endless belt is used, slots may be cut in the belt to correspond with the slots in the shuttles.

A finger connection with the stop rod motion, usually found only in fast reed looms, may be operated through the slot in the bottom of the boxes, to be acted upon by the shuttle on enterin the box, and so make the loom into a fast reed loom.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:--

1. In a weft replenishing loom a plurality of connected and movable shuttle holders mounted at one end of the loom, a magazine for loaded shuttle skewers carried adjacent the same end of the loom and adapted to be oscillated with and by the sley of said loom, means for moving said shuttle holders to bring a filled shuttle to weaving position, said means simultaneously moving a shuttle with a used skewer to an ejecting position, said means acting at the same time to bring a shuttle holder with an empty shuttle into a position for being refilled, and means connecting said magazine with said shuttle holders to move said magazine in unison with said holders and without' relative movement thereto as the weft is changed.

2. The structure of claim 1, and means centrally of said holders for ejecting a used shuttle skewer when the shuttle thereof is moved to said ejecting position.

3. The structure of claim 1 with means for transferring a loaded shuttle skewer from said magazine to an empty shuttle of said holders when said shuttle is positioned for refilling and means centrally of said holders for ejecting'a used shuttle skewer when the shuttle thereof is moved to said ejecting position.

4. The structure of claim 1, with means for transferring a loaded shuttle skewer from said magazine to an empty shuttle of said holders when said empty shuttle is positioned for refilling, means for moving said shuttle holders to position a full shuttle into alignment with the shuttle race of said loom for being picked, and means centrally of said holders for ejecting a used shuttle skewer when the shuttle thereof is moved to said ejecting position.

5. The structure of claim 1, with a plurality of boxes carried by said magazine, a weighted weft holder releasably carried in each box, a tongue on each weft holder for securing a weft thereto, a weft holder receptacle for each of said shuttleholders, means for transferring a weft holder from said box to said receptacle, a chute carried by said loom adjacent one of said receptacles of said shuttle holders, a cutter for cutting the weft adjacent the selvage of the fabric, and said cutting of said weft acting to release the weft holder in the receptacle adjacent said chute and permit the same to pass down said chute with the out length of weft.

6. The structure of claim 1, and means actuated by said magazine for stopping the loom when all of the loaded skewers of said magazine have been transferred to said shuttle holders.

JOHN ERNEST MOORE. 

